Bridge for musical stringed instruments



Mar. 6, 1923. v 1,447,174 A. D. GROVER BRIDGE FOR MUSICAL STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 20, 1919 2t 20 \flw INVENTEIR fiZZeri I. 6 11) 2167.

Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

ALBERT D. GROVER, OF NEW YORK, NPY.

BRIDGE FOR MUSICAL STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed November 20, 1919.

T0 all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, ALBERT D. Gnovicn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges for Musical Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in bridges for stringed musical instruments, such as violins and banjos.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for securely retaining the bridge of a stringed musical instrument in position under the taut strings ofthe instrument, and I accomplish this object by the provision of a transverse supporting member having releasable locking engagement with the bridge proper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby a supporting member of any given size is usable with equal facility with bridges of different designs and dimensions. Other objects ofthe invention will be apparent from the subjoined description.

It is not broadly new to provide a transverse supporting member for the bridge of a musical instrument, this construction being disclosed and claimed in United States Patent No. 769,644 issued to. me on the (5th day of: September 1904. The present invention. is a development of that forming the subject matter of said patent. and differs therefrom in that I now provide a locking interengagement between the bridge and its trans verse support, as distinguished from a mere frictional engagement between these parts as in theearlier construction.

Several forms of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. lis. a perspective view of a bridge and its transverse support in interengage ment; F-igs. 2, 3.. ands are side elevational views of bridges difiering slightly from each other in construction; Fig 5 is a side elevational. view of the.transversesupporting memher; Fig. 6 is aninverted plan view of Fig. 2:

Fig. 7 is a cross. sectional view on the line 7-7 of, Fig. 2; 8 is a perspective view of a somewhat modified form of bridge inconnection with which; thesetransverse supports are employed; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the supports of Fig. 8, dit fering only from the support ofqFigr 5 in being heavier in constructlon; and Fig. 10

-to be used.

Serial No. 339,403.

is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the bridge of Fig. 8, the transverse sup port being omitted.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, it will be noted that the bridge comprises the string receiving bar 10 and the supporting legs 1].. the upper edges of each bar 10 being pro vided with notches 12 for the reception of the strings of the instrument. The notches 12 differ in number and arrangement, according to the string arrangement of the instrument for which the bridge isdesigned Each bar 10 is substantially wedge shaped tapering from a relatively broad base 13 to a relatively narrow apei; 14. The thickness of the bars 10 differs in the several forms of Figs. 1 to 1, the bar oi? Fig. 1 being the thickest or widest, and that of Fig. 4 being thinnest or narrowest, it being understood that different instruments require different grades of bridges.

Providedin the opposite faces of each bar 10, extending upwardly from base 13, are elongated slots 15 laterally delimited or defined by the parallel projecting walls 16.. In the form of Figs. 1 to 3 there is provided below the lower ends of the. slots 15 a notch 17, the purpose of which will be later described. In Fig. 4 the notch is dispensed. with, the slots 15 extending down to the base 13.

The transverse supportin member, shown in Fig. 5, comprises an arc ed yoke 18 having a parallel-walled slot 19 cut in itshighest part. and legs 20 at opposite ends of the yoke. The slot 19 extends in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the yoke 18. The supporting member consti tutes, in effect, a supplemental bridgetaking strains in a direction at right angles to those taken by the main bridge.

The lower faces of the legs 11 and 20 may be provided with a thin layer 21 of a non slipping substance, such. as very finely com- Ininnted carborundum.

The bridge andtransverse support are assemoled, for use, as shovv-n n Fig l, with the walls of slot 19spannin the intactp ortion of thebar 1Q between t 'e slots 15, and

the walls 16 interlocking with I V e ,walls which delimited the slot 19. It wi be rroted that the bridge and .trensverse support. extend at right angles to each other'andovving to the interengagement or interlocking-"of the a s a a th pa ssemaimffis y secured together and are assured against tipping even under the maximum strains of the strings On the bar 10.

As will be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and l, the main bridges are of different Widths and de signs adapted to the dii'lerent instruments for which they are used.

In Fig. 2 the bridge is vided with eight notches 12 to support and space the eight strings of the so-called mandolin banjo. In this design the notches 1'? are cut deeper than in the light bridge having "lour notches 12 owing to the lightness of the bridge as shown in Fig. 8. In Fig. 4 the notch 17 is not necessary. The object oi? the notches 1'? is to make the distance between lines A and B the same in all designs of bridges. This is done so that only one size of transverse support having a slot- 19 of uniform depth is necessary for all kinds of bridges. In the manufacture of wooden bridges it is impossible to make the widths of the string supporting bars exactly the same, so that even in one design oi bridge these bars may vary from .001 to .010. It is absolutely necessary that the feet of the main bridge and thetransverse support be perfectly level, all touching the head or vellum of the instrument uniformly. Tn the process of manufacturing the bridge maple blocks are passed over a circular saw oi the depth of the notch 17. This saw projects above the saw table the exact distance as shown between lines A and B thus allowheavy and is proing the same transverse support to be used.

This support is made of fibre and punched out with dies. They will all be of exact size to .001".

If different supports were necessary many di'ilferent sets of dies would have to be used,

.thus causing great expense and contusion.

It will be understood that while the teature of making a single tr isverse support available for use with a variety of bridges forms an important part of my invention. it is nevertheless within the purview of the invention to provide a separate support for each. kind of bridge.

in the form of bridge shown in Figs. 5: and 10. the bar is not provided with integral. legs in the other forms, but has adjacent each of its ends the slots and an undercut notch 17, thus being adapted to receive each end a transverse support of the weight an onstruetion shown in Fig. The support of Fig. 9 is identical in construction with. that shown in Fig.6 and the same reference characters are applied to sirable.

I claim l. The combination with the bridge of a stringed musical instrument, of a transverse support therefor, and parallel walls disposed longitudinally in the bridge and transversely in the support for fining their rela tive positions and releasably interlocking said parts.

2. The combination with the bridge of a stringed musical instrument, the bar of said bridge having oppositely disposed slots therein, of a transverse support having a slot the walls of which are allel with each other and with those of the bridge and de si 'lQCl to enter and interlock with the walls ot the slots of the bar.

3. The combination with the sridge of a stringed musical instrument, the bar oi said bridge having oppositely disposed parallel slots and a notch at one end or said slots, of a transverse support having a slot the walls or which are parallel with each other and with those of said bridge and designed to enter the slots of the bar and a portion of the support below the slot therein being adapted to enter said notch, whereby the relative positions of the two parts remain fixed;

l. The combination with the bridge of a stringed musical instrument, the bar of said bridge having slots parallel to each other in its opposite faces, of a transverse support for said bridge having a slot the walls of which are parallel with each other and with those of said bridge and designed to enter and interlock with the walls of the slots oi said bar to iii; the relative positions of the two members.

5. The combination with the bridge of a stringed musical instrument comprising a tapered. bar having slots provided with opposite parallel walls extending upwardly from the base of the bar, of a transverse sup port for the bridge having a parallel-walled slot lhe walls whereof are designed to enter and interlock with thewalls of the slots in saic bar to fix the latter against lateral dis placement.

6. A. bridge for a musical stringed instru ment coniprir'ng a tapered bar having near each end slots in opposite faces thereof, all, of the walls oi said slots being parallel to each other and a notch at the end of each ts. and a tr averse support rer of transverse supper walls adapted to enter a pair of and an intact portion of is d ued to enter a notch, whereby ii'c :irqustinent at the two members may be limited to vertical movements.

in testimony whereof T have a'liixed my signature in. presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT D. GEOVER.

Witnesses PAULA Wnnnnn, v Cmnron FRANCE.

:1 parallehwalled slot the. 

